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Coping After a Suicide

If someone you care about has died by suicide, you may be feeling a whole range of different emotions - shock, disbelief, anger, guilt, grief.

You might be asking yourself:

“Why did they do it?”

“What could I have done to help?”

It is normal to try to make sense of something that seems senseless, but it is important to understand that you are not at fault.

After a suicide, sometimes people feel such intense emotional pain that they wonder if they can survive. If you feel this way, it is important to talk about your feelings with someone you trust. Or you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-TALK to speak with a someone who will listen to you and understand what you are going through.

You may find it hard to believe now, but your grief will not always feel like this. Grief changes as you work through it, and eventually it will get easier to deal with your loss. Until then, talking to people you love and trust about how you feel can help you deal with your pain.